As stablecoins take over fintech, MiniPay surpasses 8 million wallets and 200 million transactions, with 255% activation surge in Q2

Rhea-AI Summary

Opera (NASDAQ: OPRA) announced significant milestones for its MiniPay platform, surpassing 8 million activated phone-verified wallets and processing over 200 million transactions since launch. The non-custodial wallet, integrated into Opera Mini browser and available as a standalone app, has achieved 2 million downloads on Google Play Store alone.

MiniPay enables users to store, send, and spend stablecoins like USDT, USDC, and cUSD without seed phrases or high fees. Built on the Celo blockchain, it features a growing ecosystem of 27 Mini Apps generating 15 million monthly opens. The platform's success is evidenced by nearly 50% of all gas fees on Celo network being paid in USDT through MiniPay.

The platform is expanding to new markets and plans to integrate with local payment methods like Pix in Brazil, focusing on making stablecoin payments more accessible for daily transactions.

Positive

• Achieved 8 million activated wallets and 200 million processed transactions
• Reached 2 million downloads on Google Play Store
• Powers 27 Mini Apps with 15 million monthly opens and 150 million monthly impressions
• Dominates Celo network activity with 50% of gas fees paid in USDT
• Strong ecosystem growth with partners like Noah, Diamo, and Binance Pay

Negative

• Operates in regulatory uncertainty amid ongoing U.S. stablecoin regulation debates
• Faces potential competition from traditional financial systems and other crypto platforms

Insights

Fintech & Blockchain Analyst

Opera's MiniPay wallet shows exceptional growth with 8M wallets and 200M transactions, demonstrating real-world stablecoin adoption in underserved markets.

Opera's MiniPay has achieved remarkable traction in the stablecoin space, surpassing 8 million activated phone-verified wallets and processing over 200 million transactions since launch. What's particularly noteworthy is the 255% surge in activations during Q2, signaling accelerating adoption and product-market fit. The platform's integration directly into Opera Mini gives it a significant distribution advantage across emerging markets.

Looking beyond headline metrics, MiniPay's dominance is evident in network-level data - the wallet accounts for nearly 50% of all gas fees on the Celo network paid in USDT. This isn't merely wallet adoption; it represents actual user activity and transaction volume. The strategic focus on emerging markets addresses genuine financial needs like inflation protection and remittance efficiency in regions with limited banking infrastructure.

The orchestration layer connecting stablecoins to local payment systems represents MiniPay's core competitive advantage. By enabling users to fund wallets via mobile money and local payment methods, Opera has solved the critical on-ramp challenge that typically hampers crypto adoption. The ecosystem of 27 Mini Apps generating 15 million monthly opens creates a comprehensive financial utility layer around the wallet.

The self-custodial architecture built on Celo's blockchain offers the security benefits of decentralization while eliminating seed phrase complexity through phone-based authentication. This approach strikes the right balance between accessibility and security for target markets where technical barriers often impede adoption.

For Opera, MiniPay represents a strategic expansion beyond browsers into financial services - potentially creating a new growth vector and revenue stream separate from its traditional advertising model. The pace of user acquisition suggests this could become a material business segment for the company over time.

MiniPay brings stablecoins into everyday use across the Global South and beyond while U.S. lawmakers debate regulation.

OSLO, Norway, July 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Opera Limited (NASDAQ: OPRA), one of the world's major browser developers and a leading internet consumer brand, today announced that MiniPay has officially surpassed 8 million activated phone-verified wallets and processed over 200 million transactions since its launch – making it one of the fastest-growing non-custodial wallets globally. As the United States Congress debates how to regulate stablecoins in the U.S., MiniPay is already showing what stablecoin adoption looks like at scale.

Integrated directly into the Opera Mini browser for Android and available as a standalone app on iOS and Android, MiniPay allows users to store, send, and spend stablecoins like Tether USDT, Circle USDC, and Celo cUSD without needing to remember seed phrases, use third-party apps, or pay expensive fees. On Google Play Store alone, MiniPay has already crossed 2M downloads. Built for real-world use and designed to minimize complexity for users, MiniPay brings dollar-based digital payments to smartphone users across the Global South and beyond.

"We're pleased with MiniPay's strong Q2 growth – it reflects real demand for stable, accessible financial tools," said Jørgen Arnesen, EVP Mobile at Opera. "We've spent decades removing barriers to access, and with MiniPay, that mission now extends to money. Our goal is to help people use stablecoins for everyday needs like sending money, saving securely, and protecting against local currency inflation."

Stablecoins in action – not just infrastructure, but daily life

MiniPay's rapid growth comes from solving real user needs in regions where financial volatility is high and access to a stable currency can be life-changing. MiniPay's speed and adoption are underscored by industry data: close to 50% of all gas fees on Celo network are paid in USDT, primarily through MiniPay usage. This reinforces that MiniPay is not just a wallet, but a primary driver of stablecoin activity and network engagement.

Powered by the Celo blockchain, MiniPay offers fast, low-cost transactions and is self-custodial by default, enabling secure access to funds without traditional banking systems. Users recover wallets using phone credentials instead of seed phrases, eliminating onboarding friction.

MiniPay's strength lies in its orchestration layer, which connects stablecoins to real-world financial systems with unmatched reach across emerging markets. Users can fund their wallets using local payment methods like mobile money or cards and will soon be able to receive payments using their own U.S. or EU virtual bank account, converting funds to stablecoins directly. Through ongoing and planned partnerships with Noah, Diamo, Binance Pay, and a network of fiat on/off ramps, MiniPay delivers one of the most seamless stablecoin payment experiences available.

New and innovative MiniPay features like Pockets, powered by Mento, which allow users to manage multiple balances and stablecoins within one wallet interface, further strengthen MiniPay's role as a flexible, real-world financial tool. Whether sending money to friends, topping up airtime, or subscribing to music streaming, users benefit from a system designed for speed, affordability, and real utility.

MiniPay also powers a growing ecosystem of 27 Mini Apps, generating over 15 million opens per month and 150 million monthly impressions, turning the wallet into a practical financial hub. These apps support airtime purchases, utility payments, local commerce, and digital services. Popular examples include Bando for peer-to-peer transfers and bill pay (for example, gas or electricity), Tanda for community savings and payments, and Mdundo, which offers access to Africa's leading music streaming platform. Bitgifty, one of MiniPay's most popular Mini Apps for airtime and data, has grown transaction volumes 30x in 15 months and has recorded over 800,000 transactions to date.

"Stablecoin-based solutions are creating a new era for crypto and Web3 – one grounded in real-world utility and everyday use," said Jørgen Arnesen, EVP Mobile at Opera. "When digital dollars are easy to access and simple to use, adoption follows fast. That's exactly what we're seeing with MiniPay, as more people around the world begin to engage with stablecoins for savings, payments, and daily transactions. That's how the next billion will be onboarded to Web3."

What's next

MiniPay is expanding to new markets and continuing to grow its ecosystem of financial services through Mini Apps. In the coming months, users will also gain the ability to pay directly from their MiniPay balance into local methods like Pix in Brazil, making stablecoins even more useful for day-to-day spending. The focus remains on accessibility, performance, and real-world utility – making stablecoin payments as easy and universal as sending a message.

About Opera

Opera is a user-centric and innovative software company focused on enabling the best possible internet browsing experience across all devices. Hundreds of millions use the Opera web browsers for their unique and secure features on their mobile phones and desktop computers. Founded in 1995, and headquartered in Oslo, Norway, Opera is a public company listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the ticker symbol "OPRA". Download the Opera web browser and access other Opera products from opera.com. Learn more about Opera at investor.opera.com.

About MiniPay

MiniPay is a lightweight, non-custodial stablecoin wallet built on the Celo blockchain. MiniPay is designed to make digital finance accessible, affordable, and user-friendly – especially across emerging markets. Integrated directly into the Opera Mini browser and available as a standalone Android and iOS app, MiniPay enables users to send, receive, and save stablecoins like cUSD, USDC, and USDT with sub-cent fees, no gas management, and a phone number-linked experience. Since its launch in 2023, MiniPay has expanded to over 50 countries and surpassed 8 million activated wallets, making it one of the fastest-growing stablecoin wallets globally. Learn more at www.minipay.xyz

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/as-stablecoins-take-over-fintech-minipay-surpasses-8-million-wallets-and-200-million-transactions-with-255-activation-surge-in-q2-302507810.html

SOURCE Opera Limited

FAQ

How many active wallets does Opera's MiniPay (NASDAQ: OPRA) have in 2025?

MiniPay has surpassed 8 million activated phone-verified wallets and has processed over 200 million transactions since its launch.

What types of stablecoins does MiniPay support?

MiniPay supports multiple stablecoins including Tether USDT, Circle USDC, and Celo cUSD.

How many Mini Apps are available on Opera's MiniPay platform?

MiniPay powers an ecosystem of 27 Mini Apps that generate over 15 million opens per month and 150 million monthly impressions.

What percentage of Celo network gas fees come from MiniPay?

Close to 50% of all gas fees on the Celo network are paid in USDT, primarily through MiniPay usage.

How can users recover their MiniPay wallet?

Users can recover their MiniPay wallets using phone credentials instead of traditional seed phrases, making the process more user-friendly.